A huge upset occurred on the undercard of Callum Walsh vs Dean Sutherland, with one of the heaviest men to ever grace the win scoring a dominant victory.
The Madison Square Garden hosted an event filled with Irish action from headliner Callum Walsh, tipped to be one of the first boxers to join Dana White’s TKO league, to Lamont Roach Jr.‘s former foe Feargal McCrory.
But the card didn’t get off to the best start, as Dillian Whyte-managed Thomas Carty suffered his first career defeat, and by stoppage, to 409lb Dajuan Calloway.
It was not, however, a typical stoppage, and many argue it should’ve been ruled a no-contest.
“That was hard to watch”… Fans react to Thomas Carty injuring his knee in fight against 409lb Goliath
Carty was 10-0 going into the bout with Calloway, whose own record sat at 11-2, but was always expected to win.
Carty took to social media ahead of the fight, writing: “Our island may be small, but our spirit is mighty. The Emerald Isle breeds warriors, and I’m about to prove it.”
Unfortunately things didn’t go his way, as the fight with the 409-pound juggernaut forced Carty to not only contend with a 150-pound weight difference, but eventually a knee injury too.
The Irishman’s knee buckled, but despite the pain, Carty got to his feet, hobbled to the center of the ring and continued to fight.
Some fans aren’t sympathetic to Carty, who was left in tears in his corner:
“Thomas Carty crying in the corner after getting his knee destroyed from the weight of Dajuan Calloway leaning on him, f—— hilarious heavyweight fight.”
Whilst others are heart-broken for the heavyweight prospect:
“IMO if an injury is occurred and fight has to stop, should be a no contest until 4 rounds have been completed – treat it like they do with cuts”
One even commented on the craziness of the situation, writing: “Even Nostradamus couldn’t predict this.”
Calloway may be the heaviest boxer to grace the ring, trumping the likes of Valuev, Butterbean and Bakole.
Dillian Whyte tipped Thomas Carty to become world champion
Carty’s career has been managed by fellow heavyweight, Dillian Whyte, who told Irish Boxing that he believes Carty has the makings of the next Irish world champion.
Whyte, who withdrew from the Joe Joyce fight due to a finger injury, said: “He can be a massive star […] He’s a big man with a big left hand as you saw tonight, plus he is a good-looking guy.”
Whyte concluded: “I think he can definitely win a world title.”
Carty’s world title ambitions may have to be put on hold, however, as the Irishman will be forced to first deal with his knee injury and then make a successful comeback return before working up to title contention.